WO2000073940A1 - Procede et systeme de mise a jour automatique de diagrammes - Google Patents

Procede et systeme de mise a jour automatique de diagrammes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000073940A1
WO2000073940A1 PCT/US2000/014087 US0014087W WO0073940A1 WO 2000073940 A1 WO2000073940 A1 WO 2000073940A1 US 0014087 W US0014087 W US 0014087W WO 0073940 A1 WO0073940 A1 WO 0073940A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
program
graphics
database
custom code
file
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/014087
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2000073940A9 (fr
Inventor
Miles Clay Flansburg
Srinivas S. Moola
Original Assignee
Visionael Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Visionael Corporation filed Critical Visionael Corporation
Publication of WO2000073940A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000073940A1/fr
Publication of WO2000073940A9 publication Critical patent/WO2000073940A9/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/12—Discovery or management of network topologies
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/22—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S707/00—Data processing: database and file management or data structures
    • Y10S707/99941—Database schema or data structure
    • Y10S707/99944—Object-oriented database structure
    • Y10S707/99945—Object-oriented database structure processing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S707/00—Data processing: database and file management or data structures
    • Y10S707/99941—Database schema or data structure
    • Y10S707/99948—Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to diagrams of logical network layouts and more particularly to a method and system for automatically updating such diagrams.
  • FIG 1 displays a typical CAD setup where a system user 10 accesses a relational database 14 with a CAD program 12 to make changes to the network configuration.
  • CAD computer-aided design
  • FIG 1 displays a typical CAD setup where a system user 10 accesses a relational database 14 with a CAD program 12 to make changes to the network configuration.
  • these diagrams effectively display the network in terms of scalability and configuration.
  • MACs routine moves, adds, and changes
  • the products could obtain some of the necessary data for these MACs from compatible electronic databases or even import the data from CAD files, the MACs still require substantial manual data entry to accurately document the entire physical infrastructure.
  • NMSs Network Management Systems
  • FIG 2 shows how a system administrator 100 accesses the relational database 104 via a typical NMS 102.
  • these systems don't comprehensively track the network devices or associate them with their appropriate physical and logical locations. Nor do they provide details as to how the objects are connected or the details of intermediate devices.
  • a method and system in accordance with the present invention for automatically updating graphical diagrams of logical network layouts is disclosed.
  • the method combines a graphics file with a list of information associating the graphical elements with objects that are within a database and extends a graphics program to reflect the changes in the database with the graphics file and to respond to changes in the database.
  • a user can create, edit, store, and distribute graphical diagrams of logical network layouts.
  • the diagrams can be created automatically and then edited and distributed by the user.
  • the user is able to edit the network diagrams without affecting the current as-built view of the network.
  • the system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for tracking every network device, passive and active, and provides for associating network devices with the appropriate physical and logical locations, specifications, serial numbers, warranty information, etc.
  • Figure 1 shows a conventional CAD management environment.
  • Figure 2 shows a conventional Network Management System environment.
  • Figure 3 is a simple block diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a system for providing graphical diagrams in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the system in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 6 is a flowchart of how the system in accordance with the present invention associates graphical elements with objects that are within a database.
  • Figure 7 is a flowchart of how the system in accordance with the present invention extends the graphics program to reflect changes in the database with the graphics file.
  • the present invention provides a method and system for automatically updating diagrams of logical network layouts.
  • the following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements.
  • Various modifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments.
  • the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
  • a method and system in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in the context of a preferred embodiment.
  • the preferred embodiment allows for the graphical representation of a network or a network segment based on the actual network configuration information stored in a relational database.
  • the preferred embodiment operates based on the knowledge of the actual network configuration, so it associates the right cable with the new element and its location. These are called “virtual drawings”.
  • the preferred embodiment builds a view of the network segment based on user input. In other words, it searches the relational database for the requested information and associates it with a simple drawing. It only moves database queries rather than the entire graphics. It allows logical views of the network plan as well as physical views. This enables users to create network designs using a set of canned and customizable network symbols.
  • the designs created using the logical view sketchpad can then be viewed using a graphics program, such as Visio.
  • a graphics program such as Visio.
  • Integrated into the preferred embodiment of the method and system in accordance with the present invention are several custom functions that enhance the graphics program, making it easier for the user to edit these drawings.
  • One of the features of the system's logical view is its capability to add network objects to the physical view with only partial information about the object. This reduces the user's task of having to enter every bit of data about an object before adding it to the overall network design.
  • the method and system in accordance with the present invention is a comprehensive physical management system that dynamically creates virtual drawings from information provided by the user.
  • the method and system in accordance with the present invention automatically draws images of network devices based on the rules inherent in the system.
  • the user creates a graphical representation of a device by extracting the corresponding data from the relational database and models the device based on a previously established rule set.
  • the user can then create an object graphically and automatically update the underlying relational database simultaneously.
  • FIG 3 is a simple flowchart of a system in accordance with the present invention.
  • a graphics file is combined with a list of information that associating graphical elements with objects that are within a database, via step 200.
  • the graphics program is extended to reflect the changes in the database with the graphics file and to respond to changes in the database, via step 202.
  • FIG 4 is a simple flow diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention.
  • the system 300 and the custom code 302 communicate with the relational database 306 through the interface 304.
  • the relational database 306 then interacts with the NMS 208 through the exception manager 308, to communicate with the network 312.
  • a user can create, edit, store, and distribute graphical diagrams of logical network layouts.
  • the diagrams can be created automatically and then edited and distributed by the user.
  • the user is able to edit the network diagrams without affecting the current as-built view of the network.
  • the system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for tracking every network device, passive and active, and provides for associating network devices with the appropriate physical and logical locations, specifications, serial numbers, warranty information, etc.
  • a Graphical File Management Program (GFMP) 404 is used to manage the details of initializing and launching a graphics program 412.
  • An example of a GFMP is Vislaunch, which is manufactured by .
  • a typical example of a graphics program is Visio, which is manufactured by ._
  • the graphics program 412 is utilized by the system user to create a sketch document 406.
  • the event handler 408 handles or dispatches events that are generated within the sketch document 406 via the graphics program 412.
  • the System View List (VL) 410 file is the list of information associating graphical objects in the graphics file with database objects in the relational database 403.
  • An interface 402 communicates with the relational database while the custom code 416 contains most of the proprietary code that allows the relational database 403 to interact with the sketch document 406.
  • FIG 5 is a block diagram of the operation of the system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG 6 is a detailed flowchart of how the system in accordance with the present invention associates graphical elements with objects within a database.
  • FIG 7 is a detailed flowchart of how the system in accordance with the present invention extends the graphics program to reflect changes in the database with the graphics file. Associating Graphical Elements With Objects Within a Database Referring to FIG 5 and FIG 6 together first, the system retrieves the sketch document 406 and the VL file 410 from the relational database 403, via step 500.
  • the system then invokes the GFMP 404, via step 502, which in turn instructs the graphics program 412 to open the sketch document 406, via step 504.
  • the graphics program 412 then loads the custom code 416, via step 506.
  • the graphics program 412 opens the sketch document 406 and code within the sketch document 406 creates an object (is this an adequate generic term??) using the event handler 408, via step 508.
  • the object then adds custom functions to the graphics program's menus and associates them with the custom code 416 via step 510.
  • the GFMP 404 uses the graphics program 412 to invoke functions in the custom code 416 via step 512.
  • the custom code 416 then logs into the database using the interface 402, via step 514.
  • the custom code 416 then reads the VL file 410 and uses the graphics program 412 to update the sketch document 406 as necessary to match the VL file 412 and the information in the relational database 403, via step 516. Extending the Graphics Program to Reflect Changes in the Database with the Graphics File
  • the sketch document 406 forwards the events to the object, via step 602.
  • the object either handles the events itself or forwards them on to the custom code 416 using the graphics program 412, via step 604. This may require updating of internal data, and/or adding, updating, or removing objects from the relational database 403, via the interface 402.
  • an event handler in the sketch document 406 is triggered, via step 606.
  • the sketch document 406 then forwards the event to the object, via step 608.
  • the object then forwards the event on to the custom code 416 using the graphics program 412, via step 610.
  • the custom code 416 then saves an updated version of the VL file 410, via step 612.
  • the custom code 416 uses the interface 402 to save the updated sketch document 406 and the VL file 410 back to the relational database 403, via step 614.
  • the custom code 416 posts a message to the system telling it that the document has been modified so that the system can update it's display, via step 616.
  • a system in accordance with the present invention uses a basic drawing program with an underlying knowledge base.
  • the user picks a device type from a menu, the system creates the device, and the user places it accordingly.
  • the user does not have to figure out in which cell in a CAD schematic to place new devices and cabling, but simply assigns them a new location, and the system does the rest.
  • the user can view the network as it was originally configured and then compare it to the network's current state or even a proposed state.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un système de mise à jour automatique de diagrammes graphiques (12) de représentation logique de réseaux. Le procédé consiste à combiner un fichier de graphismes à une liste d'informations associant les éléments graphiques avec les objets de la base de données (14), puis à générer dynamiquement un programme graphique de façon à répercuter automatiquement dans les fichiers de graphismes les modifications affectant la base de données (14), et de réagir à ces modifications. Le recours au procédé et au système de l'invention permet à l'utilisateur de créer, d'éditer, de stocker, et de distribuer des diagrammes graphiques des représentations logiques des réseaux. L'utilisateur (10) peut dès lors créer automatiquement, puis éditer et distribuer les diagrammes (12). En outre, l'utilisateur a la possibilité d'éditer les diagrammes du réseau sans affecter la vue brute de construction actuelle du réseau. Enfin, le système fait un suivi de tous les appareils du réseau, passifs et actifs, et les associe notamment aux situations physiques et logiques, aux spécifications, aux numéros de série, ainsi qu'aux informations de garantie.
PCT/US2000/014087 1999-06-02 2000-05-22 Procede et systeme de mise a jour automatique de diagrammes WO2000073940A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/325,009 1999-06-02
US09/325,009 US6393432B1 (en) 1999-06-02 1999-06-02 Method and system for automatically updating diagrams

Publications (2)

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WO2000073940A1 true WO2000073940A1 (fr) 2000-12-07
WO2000073940A9 WO2000073940A9 (fr) 2001-06-14

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US (1) US6393432B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000073940A1 (fr)

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WO2000073940A9 (fr) 2001-06-14
US6393432B1 (en) 2002-05-21

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